Refrigerating apparatus



D. E. DASHER REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 29, 19:52

Dec. 16, 1941."

Reissued De c. 16, 1941 i y 21,976 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS DonE. Dasher,Dayton, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to General MotorsCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Original No. 1,999,471, datedFebruary 12, 1935,

Serial No. 589,685, January 29, 1932. Renewed April 10, 1934.Application for reissue October 7, 1936, Serial No. 104,484

18 Claim This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and moreparticularly to improved refrigerant air conditioning apparatus havingimproved control means.

At the present time there is need for an automatic air conditioningsystem which will be sufficiently simple and low in cost to be installedin residences. It has been found that it is too costly in mostsituations to provide an air conditioning system having ample capacityto cool the entire residence. However, in many instances, it has notbeen found satisfactory to cool only one room of the residence, sincethe occupants do not wish to be confined to one comfortable room, butdesire that whichever room they wish to enter shall be air conditioned.

Consequently it isv one of the objects .,of the invention to provide animproved air conditioning system of limited capacity and consequent lowcost but capable of selectively conditioning any one or more of aplurality of rooms.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide airconditioning means having evaporate ing means in a plurality of roomsbut provided with a refrigerant liquefying apparatus sufllcient only toproperly cool and condition one of the rooms at a time in order tominimize the cost of the apparatus.

-It is also highly desirable that the occupants of the residence whengoing from one room to another may conveniently control the apparatus soas at any time they may select the room or group of rooms they desire tobeconditioned. Consequently it is another object of the invention toprovide, for such a system, an improved control means which isselectively operable from each of the rooms provided with airconditioning means to select the room or group of rooms to beconditioned by the apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompany-(c1. ea-s) These branch conduits 25 and 26 are each provided with asolenoid operated valve, namely the valves 3| and 32. The branchconduits 25 and 26 are also provided with a suitable automatic expansionvalve, namely the valves 33 and 34. The expansion valves 33 and 34automatically control, according to the pressure of the refrigerantwithin their respective evaporators, the flow of liquid refrigerant tothe evaporators 35 and 33 which are located within the airconditioning'cabinets 21 and 29. The liquid refrigerant under reducedpressure evaporates in the evaporators 35 and 39 and this evaporatedrefrigerant is returned to the compressor 2| through the branch returnconduits 31 and 39 and also the main return conduit 39. The refrigerantliquefying apparatus may be located in any convenient place such as thebasement ofthe dwelling. The compressor is driven by an electric motor49 through pulley and belt means 41. The electric motor 49 is suppliedwith electric current from a 220 volt power line desighated by referencecharacter 229. The electric current is supplied from the power line 229through the electrical conductors 92 and 43. The operation of theelectric motor 49 is controlled by a switch 44 which is opened andclosed by electromagnet means 45.

The electrical energy for the electric control system is supplied from a110 volt power line designated by the reference character 119. Thissystem is protected by means ofa manually operated control switch 49.The electrical energy for the compressor motor control circuit issupplied through the electrical conductor" to a thering drawing, whereina preferred form of the invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

The figure is a diagrammatic illustration of my improved refrigerant airconditioning apparatus including my improved control means.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown for the purpose of illustratingmy invention, a refrigerant air conditioning apparatus including acompressor 2| for compressing the refrigerant and for-forwarding therefrigerant to a condenser 22 where the compressed refrigerant iscondensed and collected in the receiver 23. This portion ofthe-apparatus is termed the refrigerant liquefying apparatus. From thereceiver 23 the liquid refrigerant is forwarded throughconduit andbranch conduits25 and 23 to air conditioning cabinets 21 and 29 locatedin the rooms 23 and 39.

mostatic control switch 98 located in the room 39 adjacent the cabinet29 which switch is connected through the electrical conductor 43 to asingle pole double throw switch. commonly called a 3-way switch 59 alsolocated in the. room 39. From the 3-way switch 59 in the room 39 a pairof electrical conductors 5| and 52 extend to another single pole doublethrow or, 3-way switch 53 located in the room 29 adjacent the cabinet21. This switch is connected by means of the electrical conductor 54 toa thermostatic switch 55 also located in the room 23. A thermostaticcontrol switch 55 is connected by means of the electrical conductors 59and 51 with a snap acting switch 53 operated by a suitable bellows means59 connected to the return conduit 39 of the refrigerating apparatus.This snap acting low pressure control switch 58 is connected by means ofthe electrical conductor 69 to operate the electromagnet means 49 foropening and closing the switch 44, which electromagnet means isconnected by means of the conductor 31 to electrical conductor 32 whichis return line or second wire of the volt system. A light spring 99 orother suitable means holds the switch I open when the electromagnetmeans ii is not energized.

It will be understood that when both of the thermostats and all or theswitches in this system are closed that the electromagnet means 45 willhold the switch 44 in closed position. Should one of the switches or oneof the thermostats open the control circuit, the switch 44 willbe opened-by the spring 96 to stop the electric motor l and the compressor 2|.This system is also provided with means for indicating in both of therooms 29 and 30 whether the compressor is in operation or not. This isdone by a signaling system which comprises an electric conductor '3which connects to the electrical conductors M and 65, each of which areprovided with a signaling lamp, one of which, 66, is located within theroom 29 while the other, 61, is located .within the room 30. Theelectrical conductors I! and 64 are finally connected to the electricalconductor 62 of the 110 volt circuit to complete the signaling system.

Each of the air conditioning cabinets 21 and 2| are provided with a Ianand II which are driven by the electric motors 12 and I3 respectively.These fans 10 and II circulate air from the room over the evaporators 35and I and in this way cool and condition the air within the rooms 29 and30. A separate control system is provided for supplying electricalenergy to the fans and fan motors l2 and 13 as well as to thesolenoid-operated valves 3| and 32. g

In this system there is provided an electrical conductor 15 which leadsfrom the electrical conconductor 18 which leads to a two circuit-switch11. The electromagnet 18 of the solenoid-operated valve 32 is connectedin parallel to the electricai conductors l6 and II by means'of theconductors l9 and 80. From the two-circuit switch 11 there extends apair of electrical conductors 8| and 82 to a single pole double throwswitch commonly called a three-way switch 83. The twocircuit switch I1is located within the room 30 while the three-way switch 83 is locatedwithin the room 29. From the three-way switch 83 an electrical conductor84 extends to another threeway switch 85 also located within the room29. From the three-way switch 85 a pair of electrical conductors 86 and81 extend to a three-way switch 88 located within the room 30. From thethree-way switch 88 an electrical conductor ll extends to the other wire41 of the 110 volt circuit. From the two-circuit switch Tl locatedfollows:

" apparatus is thus dependent on the thermostatic one or the evaporators35 or 38. Consequently,

it isnecessary that the control circuit for the fan motors be sodesigned as topermit the operation of only one of the tan motors and theopening of one oi the valves at a time. The control circuit of the fanmotor is also designed so that both of the ian motors can be shut oii atone time, if desirable.

The operation of my improved system is as The three-way switches and 53of the compressor motor control circuit are shown closed and theoperation of the refrigerant liquefying control switches 55, 8 as wellas the pressure responsive snap acting switch 58. The pressureresponsive snap acting switch- 58 however also is shown closed. ,Themain or primary switch of the compressor motor circuit isopen,preventing operation of the compressor. Under these conditions it willbe found that the thermostatic I switch 48 located in the room 3|! isopen, preventing the operation of the motor Ill and the compressor 2 l.

At the same time in. the fan motor circuit it will be found that thetwo-circuit switch 11 L; in position connecting the electricalconductors l6 and B2. The three-way switch 83 is in position connectingthe electrical conductors l2 and, while the three-way switches 85 and 88are in position to connect electrical conductors ll, 21 and I! tocomplete the electrical circuit for the fan motor 13. Through thiscircuit electrical energy will be supplied to the fan motor 13 to causeoperation of the fan 1|.

Inasmuch as the solenoid and the electromag-.

net means ll of the solenoid valve 32 are in parallel with the fan motor13, the solenoidoperated valve 32 will be held open at this time,thereby permitting refrigerant to be supplied to the evaporator 38within the cabinet 28, pro

viding the refrigerant liqueiying apparatus is in operation. Inasmuch asthe refrigerant liquefying apparatus is not in operation, no rewithinthe room 30 an electrical conductor 90 of either fan or to stop theoperation of either or both fans from either room and at the same timeto control the valves II and 22.

When one of the electric motors 12 or II is in operation driving itsrespective fan, its respective solenoid-operated valve II or 32 will beopen since these valves are connected in paralleltothe electric fanmotor circuit. Consequently,when the fan is in operation, its respectivesolefrigerant will besupplied to the evaporator 36 and fan 13 willmerely circulate the air in the room 30 until the room becomessufliciently warm and close the thermostatic switch 48 to cause theoperation of the refrigerant liqueiying apparatus. If an occupant ofeither the room ill or the room 29 wishes to prevent the operation ofthe refrigerant liquei'ying' apparatus, -he Y can without leaving eitherroom open the motor control circuit by tripping either of the three-wayswitches III or 53. If it is desired to operate the system without thecontrol of the thermostats ll and 55, these thermostats may be shuntedso as to prevent these thermostatic switches from opening the compressormotor control circuit. If the thermostatic switches 48 and 55 areshunted out as suggested above, the operation of the compressor motor 40may be controlled from either of the rooms 2! or 30 by tripping eitheroi the switches ill or 52. Thishowever, is'subject to thepressureresponsive switch 58 which opens the motor control circuit when thepressure within the return The circuit of both of the fan motors willthen be i opened and-neither fan or II will operate. However, shouldeither the switch 11, located in the room 30, or the three-way switch 83located in room 29, be tripped, the electric circuit for the fan motorI3 and the valve 32 will be opened and the electric circuit for the fanmotor I2 and the valve 3| will be closed, causing the opening of thesolenoid-operated valve 3| and the operation of the fan 10 to circulatethe air in the room 29 over the surfaces of the evaporator 35. Underthese conditions, the air in both of the rooms will be warm and if thecompressor is under the control of the thermostats 48 and 55, thesethermostats will close, completing the compressor control circuitcausing the operation of the refrigerant liquefying apparatus, andthereby supplying liquid refrigerant to the evaporator thus cooling theair passing over the surfaces of the evaporator and thereby cooling theroom.

Thus, it will be seen:

1. That the operation of the compressor can be controlled by a switchfrom either room or by thermostatic switches in either room and theoperation indicated by signal lights in either room.

2.'The. operation of the fan circulating means for each air conditioningcabinet may be stopped from either room without causing the operation ofthe other fan circulating means. I

3. The operation of either fan motor may be stopped from either room andthe other circulating means started from either room.

4. The refrigerant liquefying apparatus is provided with automaticcontrol means which stops the operation when neither of the airconditioning means are in operation.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved air conditioningapparatus with improved control" means which may be operated from aplurality of locations.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother formsmight be adopted, all coming within'the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An air conditioning systemlncluding a refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, a room cooler located in each of two different rooms of abuilding,

said room coolers each including regfrigerant v evaporating means, saidevaporating means-being connected to said refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, and control meansfor saidsystem including means forcontrolling the flow of refrigerant through either of; the abovementioned room coolers from either ofthe rooms occupied by room coolers.

2. An air conditiomng systemincluding a re- .frigerant liquefyingapparatus, a room cooler located in each of two difierent rooms of abuilding, said room coolers each including refrigerant evaporatingmeans, said evaporatingmeans being connected to saidrefrigerantllquefying-apparatus, and control means for said system ineludingelectrically-operated valve means for controlling the supply to eitherof said above mentioned evaporators, and electrical means It forenergizing said electrically-operated valve means for controlling theflow of refrigerant through either, of theabove mentioned room coolersfrom either of the rooms occupied by the room coolers.

3. An air conditioningsystem including a refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, a room cooler frigerant liquefying apparatus, a room coolerlocated in each of two rooms of a building, said room coolers eachincluding refrigerant evaporating means, said evaporating means of saidroomcoolers being connected in parallel to said refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, a solenoidoperated valve means at the entrance of each ofsaid two evaporating means for controlling the flow of liquidrefrigerant through each of said two room coolers, and electric circuitmeans having switch means in each of said two rooms for controllingeither of said solenoid-operated valve means from either room, and meansfor controlling the operation of said liquefying apparatus from eitherof said rooms.

5. An air conditioning system including a refrigerant liquefylngapparatus, a room cooler located in each of two different rooms of abuild ing, said room coolers each including refrigerant evaporatingmeans, said evaporating means being connected to said refrigerantliquefying apparatus, fan means in each of said two room coolers forcirculating air over said evaporating means, control means for saidliquefying apparatus, and electric circuit means having switch meanslocated in each of said rooms for controlling individually the operationof each of said fan means from either room.

6. An air conditioning system including a refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, a room cooler located in each -of two different rooms of abuilding, saidroom coolers each including refrigerant evaporating means,said evaporating means being connected to said refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, control means for said system including means for controllingthe flow of refrigerant through either ofthe above mentioned roomcoolers from either of the rooms occupied by'room coolers, means forcontrolling the operation of the refrigerant liquefying apparatus from apoint adjacent either of the room coolers, and a signal means in each ofthe rooms provided with room coolers for indicating operation of theliquefying apparatus.

7. An air conditioning system including a refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, a room cooler located in each of twodifierent rooms of abuilding, said room coolers each including refrigerant evaporatingmeans, said evaporating means being connected to said refrigerantliquefying apparatus, control means for said system including means forcontrolling the flow of refrigerant through either of the abovementioned room coolers from either of the rooms occupied by roomcoolers; and means responsive to pressures within the refrigeratingsystem for controlling the operation of the refrigerant liquefyingapparatus.

8. An air conditioning system including at least one room cooler locatedin each of a plurality of rooms of a building, at least one of said roomcoolers in each of said rooms being provided with refrigerantevaporating means, and selective control means in each of said rooms,each of said control means being operable to overcome the controlsetting of the other control means to selectively control the operationof any one of the room coolers.

9. An air conditioning system including at least one room cooler locatedin each of a plurality of rooms of a building, at least one of said roomcoolers in each of said rooms being provided with refrigerantevaporating means, and selective control means in each of said roomsincluding means for controlling any one of the above mentioned roomcoolers from any one of the rooms occupied by the room coolers.

10. An air conditioning system including a refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, a room cooler located in each of two different spaces to beconditioned, said room coolers each including refrigerant evaporatingmeans, said evaporating means being connected to said refrigerantliquefying apparatus, control means for said system including means forcontrolling the flow of refrigerant through either of the abovementioned room coolers from a point convenient to either of the roomcoolers.

11. An air conditioning system including a refrigerant liquefyingapparatus, a room cooler located in each of two different spaces to beconditioned, said room coolers each including refrigerant evaporatingmeans, said evaporating means being connected to said refrigerantliquefying apparatus, control means for said system including means for.controlling the flow of refrigerant through either of the abovementioned room coolers from a point convenient to either of the roomcoolers, and indicating means visible from each of the spaces to beconditioned for indicating operating conditions of the system.

12. An air conditioning system including a conditioner located in eachof a plurality of spaces to be conditioned, selective control means atpoints convenient to each of said conditioners,

said control means including means for preventing the operation of morethan one conditioner at a time, each of said control means beingoperable to overcome the control setting of the other control means toselectively control the operation of any one of the conditioners.

13. An air conditioning system including a conditioner having fan meansand air tempering means located in each of a plurality of spaces to beconditioned, separate selective control means at points convenient toeach of said spaces to be conditioned, each of said control means beingoperable to overcome the setting of the other control means toselectively control the operation of any one of the conditioners.

14. In a control system for air conditioning apparatus, the combinationof a plurality of air cooling devices, a refrigerating machine common tosaid devices for supplying liquid refrigerant thereto, means forconveying gaseous refrigerant from the devices to said machine, meansresponsive to a pressure condition of the gaseous refrigerant conveyedfrom the devices for initiating and terminating operation of themachine, means associated with at least one device for controlling thesupply of liquid refrigerant thereto in response to a condition of theair in the space cooled by the device, switching means for rendering thelast-mentioned means operable and inoperable, and means for circulatingair through the device for ventilation during the full period that therefrigerant supply controlling means is rendered operable by theswitching means.

15. In a control system for air conditioning apparatus, the combinationof a plurality of air cooling devices, a refrigerating machine common tosaid devices for supplying liquid refrigerant thereto, means forconveying gaseous refrigerant from the devices to said machine, meansresponsive to a pressure condition of the gaseous refrigerant conveyedfrom the devices for initiating and terminating operation of themachine, means associated with at least one device for controlling thesupply of liquid refrigerant thereto, switching means for rendering thelast-mentioned means operable and inoperable, and means for circulatingair through the device for ventilation during the full period that therefrigerant supply controlling means is rendered operable by theswitching means.

16. In a control system for air conditioning apparatus, the combinationof a plurality of air cooling devices, a refrigerating machine common tosaid devices for supplying liquid refrigerant thereto, conduitsconnecting said devices and said machine for conveying gaseousrefrigerant from the former to the latter, means responsive to thepressure of the refrigerant in said conduit for controlling theoperation of the machine, means associated with at least one coolingdevice for controlling the supply of liquid refrigerant thereto inresponse to a condition of the air in the space cooled by the device, aswitch for rendering the last-mentioned means operable or inoperable,and means for conveying air through said cooling device for ventilationduring the full period that the refrigerant supply controlling means isrendered operable by the switch.

17. The combination-of a plurality of evaporators, means for providing asupply of refrigerant for the evaporators, a plurality of valves forcontrolling the flow of refrigerant from the supply means to saidevaporators, an electricallyoperated mechanism associated with eachvalve for opening and closing the same. and an elece trical circuitwhich eflects opening operation of a selected valve and renders anothervalve incapable of being opened.

18. The combinationof a plurality of evaporators, means for providing asupply of refrigerant for the evaporators, a plurality of valves forcontrolling the flow of refrigerant from the supply means to saidevaporators, an electrically-operated mechanism associated with eachvalve for opening and closing the same, an electrical circuit for eachmechanism "which, when energized, effects opening operation thereof, and

switch means capable of opening any one of said valves and of renderinganother of said valves incapable of beingopened.

- DON E. DASHER.

